Faridkot
Going steps back after a charged speech publically allegedly to placate the traders, and under highly loaded pressure from the truck unions across the state, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Kotkapura MLA and speaker PUnjab Vidhan Sabha today on Monday also released a video message to the protesting truckers apart from a carefully worded press release.
Though Sandhwan had already released a press release, words were very carefully chosen. He went around and around the matter and avoided touching the issue of the truck union Kotkapura protesting demanding their rights.
But video message is very clear."Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh, comeraded, we have to jointly work for the development of the progres of Punjab.I want to make it clear regarding the controversy running for some days in the past that only those will be able to work who are allowed as per the honourable high court.The unions would continue to work like earlier.And if any driver brother got hurt by my words, I seek apology from the bottom of my heart because, whatever I am, I have been made by the hardworking people.I am indebted to them," said Sandhwan in his 57 seconds video.
Speaking about it, Gurwinder Singh from Truck union Koitkapura said,'' Most of our leaders and representatives from the state have accepted the apology by Sandwan. Our truck union is now reinstated and no truckers from other places would interfere with our work. The tractor trolleys can not work as they don't have any passing. They are only allowed two tons of the load and if they meet all the conditions, they may ply. But as far as the farmers are concerned, they can transport their loads freely," he said.
The sources said that the traders wanted to run an unfair deal by transporting all loads by the personal vehicles and contractors are allegedly politically connected people.
This is the first time that the truck union was abruptly disbanded by the local MLA allegedly to placate the powerful lobby of the traders and was reinstated in less than a week.
"It is a politically immature decision which was reversed in less than a week," said Ajaypal Singh Sandhu, Halqa in charge of Kotkapura congress.
But thanks to the government led by the chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, there is a way to correct the wrong decisions.